Do you have a recovery memoir with a helping feature or a self-help book for someone struggling through an illness, disease or the results of a serious accident, for example? Many people do, these days. And these books are not easy to market.
The problem is that most authors of such books attempt to promote to the mainstream reader and the percentage of people in the mainstream who are actually their audience is small. Here’s what I suggest:
1: Build a fabulous website where your book and your story are center stage. Promote that website through your promotional material, business cards, bio at the end of the articles you submit to magazines/newsletters, etc. and by linking to related websites.
2: Find books in the same category as yours and see if you can find out how they are selling and what promotional tactics the authors are using. Check out their media pages, their blog (where they might mention where they’ve been promoting their books and how). Do a search for books like yours and see where they’re showing up. Consider using some of the same methods and venues.
3: While book fairs and flea markets might be a good venue for children’s books and some intriguing novels and so forth, they often don’t attract enough of your particular readers. Instead have booths at health fairs and health and wellness trade shows.
4: Watch for local health-related activities occurring throughout the year and get involved.
5: Arrange to speak at health and wellness as well as medical conferences. You’ll find large and small health fairs all over the US and, I would imagine, health and wellness trade shows and conferences, not to mention medical conferences. Locate some of the activities/events. Start close to home if you want. (Directories of conferences below.) Start way before the event—like a year or 7 or 8 months. Study the conference website and see if you might have something to offer conference attendees. Would it be appropriate for you to speak to a group about your experience and the contents or an aspect of your books? If you can get a speaking slot at a conference, you will also have the opportunity to sell your books. Just the fact that you are speaking will result in added publicity, so even more people will learn about you and your books. Exposure, exposure, exposure.
Here are some conference directories:
http://shawguides.com
http://www.allconferences.com
http://www.bvents.com
Also do an Internet search to locate more using appropriate keywords.
If you need help with public speaking or any aspect of locating venues, preparing for a presentation, etc., order my latest book, “Talk Up Your Book, How to Sell Your Book Through Public Speaking, Signings, Festivals, Conferences and More.”
And for additional ideas and how-tos with regard to book promotion, “Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author.” Available at amazon.com in print, kindle and audio as well as most other online and downtown bookstores.